[Current Balance: £418,963,435 4s. 2d.]
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The grand celebration at Kenway Keep continued long into the evening, but in the quiet sanctuary of Alaric's private office, the real work was just beginning. The air was thick with the rich, aromatic smoke of Celestial Cigars, mingling with the complex notes of a fine Spanish wine that Fernando had insisted on sharing.
Alaric leaned back in his massive chair behind the desk, swirling the deep red liquid in his glass, the crystal catching the light from the chandeliers.
Across from him, William Penn sat with a look of quiet satisfaction, while the Viceroy, Fernando de Alencastre, seemed to have finally recovered from his earlier shock, his expression now one of keen, calculating interest.
The alliance was forged; he got out of the room and went on to enjoy the rest of the night before heading out.
"The grain, then," Alaric began, his voice was a calm rumble that cut through the comfortable silence. He looked at Penn. "What crops did you have in mind to send to New Spain? The famine relief is our first priority."
Penn set his wine glass down, his fingers steepling as he considered the logistics. "To provide immediate and sustainable relief, we should focus on a diverse supply. Corn, of course, for its hardiness and yield. Wheat, for flour. Beans and squash, for sustenance. But also cash crops to help their local economy recover… cacao, sugarcane, tobacco, perhaps even cotton."
He looked at Alaric, a thoughtful expression on his face. "To produce the half a million bushels the Viceroy requires, and to establish these new crop lines, I will grant you an additional four hundred thousand hectares of provincial land."
Alaric nearly choked on his wine. He took a quick sip to cover his surprise, then let out a low chuckle. "Four hundred thousand hectares?" he said, shaking his head. "William, my friend, I am meant to be the leader of an elite task force, not the biggest farmer in the New World."
"Well, thou art a businessman first, are thou not?" Penn countered with a sly grin. "And this is a most profitable business, both for our alliance and for the soul."
Alaric smirked and took another sip of his wine, not refuting the point. He rose from his chair, the crimson coat settling around his shoulders, and walked towards the tall window that overlooked the gardens.
The party was still in full swing below, a sea of flickering torches and laughing guests. His eyes, however, found her immediately.
Kassandra was in the center of a circle of women, a radiant smile on her face as she laughed at something Linette had said.
A nobleman, a guest from one of the other colonies whom Alaric didn't recognize, was clearly trying to ingratiate himself into her circle.
He was handsome enough, Alaric supposed, in a conventional, foppish sort of way. The man leaned in, his hand moving to rest possessively on Kassandra's waist.
Alaric just shook his head, a flicker of pity in his eyes as he took a slow drag from his cigar. 'Poor bastard. May his soul find peace.'
Kassandra's smile didn't falter. She didn't even look at the man. With a movement so swift and subtle it was almost invisible, she flicked the back of her hand against his wrist.
It wasn't a slap; it was a precise, targeted strike. A sharp, sickening crack echoed, audible even from the office. The nobleman cried out, stumbling back, clutching his shattered wrist, his face a mask of agony and disbelief.
"One thing I can say when people ask me about Kassandra," Penn's voice came from beside him. The Quaker had joined him at the window, observing the scene with a look of profound respect. "Never mess with that woman. She bested Reuben, Thulani, Oldgate, Flavia, and Matteo all on her own, making them look like children."
"I agree with you on that one," Alaric replied, a proud smile touching his lips.
"Good on ya, mate," Penn said, raising his glass in a silent toast.
Alaric turned from the window, his expression becoming serious again. "We don't need four hundred thousand hectares for the crops."
Penn turned as well, his brow furrowing. "Why? What dost thou have in mind?"
"Just give me ten thousand hectares," Alaric said, taking a drag from his cigar. "Grant me the ownership of the land's title. It becomes my private business, and I will make it possible that food in Pennsylvania becomes so cheap that everyone will want to live here."
"...Hm," Penn hummed, a slow smile spreading across his face as he understood the strategy. "Just like what thou didst in Bristol."
"Yup, at a larger scale this time," Alaric confirmed. "More diverse crops, more production. I already have a good number of farmers, but we'll need plenty more." He met Penn's gaze. "Tell the black community to work for me. I'll be generous with the salary."
Penn didn't hesitate. "Consider it done." He took a sip of his wine. "By the by, thou shouldst set up thy Celestial products here as well, why dost thou not?"
"Of course," Alaric smiled. He took another long drag, a new thought surfacing. "By the way, I sent Shakoka on a mission."
"A mission?" Penn's eyebrow rose. "What and where?"
"The Five Nations. The Iroquois," Alaric said, his expression neutral as he took a sip of wine. "We need intel on what the native people want, what they need, and if they have anything that may disrupt our plans."
"What!?" Penn nearly choked on his own wine this time. "'Laric, we cannot risk a war with the Iroquois Confederacy! I have forged peace treaties with them!"
"We can't risk being blind either, King," Alaric replied, his tone turning serious, using the title with a deliberate weight. "We are building a kingdom. We are bordered by two powerful territories: New Spain to the south and the Iroquois to the north and west. We cannot afford to be ignorant of our neighbors."
He saw the conflict in Penn's eyes and sighed. "It's not just about strategy, William. Shakoka told me of a sickness ravaging his people, the same one that nearly took his brother. A disease their healers cannot cure. They cast out the sick, banish them, out of fear."
Penn's expression softened. "And… thou canst heal this disease?"
"I healed Deganawida," Alaric stated simply. "I can heal a million of them if I have to. But Shakoka also told me that people in his tribe are dying left and right. This isn't just a sickness; it's a plague that is tearing their society apart." He shook his head. "I could fly over there and cure them all, yes. But I am not a saint, William. I was not sent here to save the world. I am here to build a safe, prosperous life for my family. If I can achieve that and forge an unbreakable alliance with the most powerful native confederacy on this continent by curing their plague… well, that is a strategic opportunity I will not ignore."
Penn stared at Alaric, at the cold, brilliant logic that intertwined with a strange, almost reluctant, compassion. He finally nodded, a look of profound understanding on his face.
"Oh, right," Alaric said, his tone shifting back to casual as he drained his wine glass. "About the Kingdom. What're you gonna call it?"
Penn took the last sip of his own wine, setting the glass down on the table with a soft click. "I already have a name for it," he said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "It's a surprise."
"What..." Alaric raised his brows as he watched Penn walk out of the room. "It better be a good name!"
Penn just chuckled, lifting a hand in a farewell gesture without looking back.
Alaric could only shake his head, a feeling of dread mixing with his amusement.
---(R18)
The grand celebration at Kenway Keep thrummed with life outside, the music and laughter of the guests drifting faintly through the thick stone walls. It was almost eight in the evening, but people were still lingering around... the vibrant lights, delicious meals and liquor made them want to stay.
Alaric stood alone in his office, the echo of William Penn's parting words lingering in his mind. He shook his head with a wry chuckle, muttering, "Seriously... I'd migrate away if he names it the Kingdom of Pennonya or some shit..."
The heavy oak door creaked open, and Kassandra slipped inside, her presence igniting the quiet room like a spark. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the chandelier's crystal light, and her deep green gown clung to her curves, accentuating the faint, barely noticeable swell of her belly... a subtle hint of the life growing inside her, perhaps slowed by her half-Isu lineage. Her eyes, sharp and hungry, locked onto Alaric's, a wicked smirk curling her lips.
"Penn left you in a mood, didn't he?" she teased, closing the door with a soft click, muffling the party's noise. Months of abstinence had left them both pent up, the air between them crackling with pent-up desire.
Alaric's grin was feral, his gaze raking over her. "You have no idea," he growled, setting his empty wine glass on the desk. "That dress is fucking dangerous, Kassandra."
His eyes lingered on her form, the slight curve of her pregnancy only intensifying his hunger. He didn't know why her bump was so small... maybe her Isu blood slowed things down... but it drove him wild to see her like this, radiant and carrying his child.
She sauntered toward him, hips swaying with deliberate intent. "Good," she purred, stopping close enough for her breath to graze his lips. "Because I'm done waiting." Her voice was thick with need, months of restraint fueling the fire in her eyes.
Alaric's hands found her waist, pulling her flush against him, careful not to press too hard on her belly. His lips crashed into hers, a desperate, ravenous kiss that tasted of wine and longing.
She moaned into his mouth, her fingers tangling in his platinum hair, tugging hard enough to make him groan.
"Fuck, I've missed this," he muttered between kisses, his hands roaming her back, itching to tear the gown off.
"Me too," she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. "I'm horny, Alaric. Fuck me."
He spun her around, pressing her gently but firmly against the edge of his massive desk, mindful of her condition but unable to hold back his desire. He hiked up her gown, revealing her bare skin, no undergarments, just as he liked.
"No panties?" he chuckled darkly, delivering a light spank to her ass, making her gasp. "You're killing me."
"Only for you," she shot back, her voice dripping with challenge. Another spank followed, firmer, and she moaned loudly, the sound echoing in the opulent office. Alaric's fingers slid between her thighs, finding her pussy drenched, her arousal coating his hand after months of pent-up need.
"Goddamn, you're soaked," he growled, unzipping his trousers and freeing his rock-hard cock, throbbing from weeks of restraint. He positioned himself behind her, teasing her entrance with the tip before thrusting in deep, filling her completely. Kassandra cried out, her hands gripping the desk's edge as he set a steady but intense pace, each thrust a release of their shared hunger.
"Alaric! Fuck!" she screamed, her moans unrestrained, the months of abstinence amplifying every sensation. He spanked her again, each slap drawing louder cries, her ass reddening under his hand. "Harder!" she begged, pushing back against him, her pussy clenching around his dick.
He grabbed her hair, pulling her head back gently as he leaned over her, his other hand wrapping around her throat, squeezing just enough to make her pulse race. "You love this, don't you?" he growled in her ear, his thrusts deep and deliberate, careful not to overwhelm her pregnant body.
"Yes! I fucking love it!" she shouted, her voice breaking with pleasure. Her body trembled, the desk creaking under their weight as he fucked her with a controlled ferocity, her cries filling the room.
Wanting more, Alaric pulled her upright, his cock still buried inside her. "Walk to the window," he ordered, his voice thick with dominance. Kassandra whimpered, her legs shaky from the intensity, but she obeyed, each step a delicious torment as his dick moved inside her.
They reached the tall window, the faint torchlight from the party below casting shadows across her skin. He pressed her gently against the glass, her breasts flattening against the cool surface, and resumed pounding into her with measured strength.
"Alaric! Oh gods!" she screamed, her body quaking as an orgasm tore through her, her pussy spasming around him. The sensation pushed him over the edge, and he came hard, his cum flooding her, their shared climax a release of months of pent-up desire.
But his cock stayed hard, pulsing with need. He lifted her carefully, her legs wrapping around his waist as he held her up, mindful of her belly, and continued fucking her mid-air. "It's so deep!" she shouted, her voice raw with ecstasy. "It's gonna tear me apart!"
"Fuck," he grunted, his thrusts relentless but controlled, driving her to another peak. Her screams echoed as she came again, her juices mixing with his cum. He followed, spilling inside her once more, the intensity leaving them both panting.
Still hard, he carried her to the bed, laying her down gently before climbing on top. He kissed her deeply, his smirk wicked as he positioned his cock at her asshole. Kassandra's eyes widened, a flicker of nervousness crossing her face. "Alaric…" she whispered, her voice soft but trusting, "Let's try it my other hole…"
He smiled, kissing her tenderly, his touch careful as he began to enter her slowly. The stretch was intense, and she screamed, tears springing to her eyes. "It hurts!" she cried, her voice breaking.
"It's okay," he murmured, kissing away her tears, his movements slow and gentle. "Breathe, love." Inch by inch, he filled her, soothing her with soft words until the pain blended into pleasure. Kassandra's cries turned to moans, her body relaxing as she adjusted to the sensation.
"Fuck, you're so tight," Alaric groaned, starting to move, slow at first, then faster, keeping his thrusts measured to avoid discomfort. Kassandra's moans grew louder, her hands clutching the sheets as pleasure overtook her.
"Yes! Alaric!" she gasped, her body rocking with his movements. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"
He reached down, rubbing her clit gently in time with his thrusts, pushing her toward another climax. "Cum for me," he commanded, and she did, her ass clenching around him as she screamed, her orgasm shaking her to her core. Alaric followed, his release flooding her, the intensity leaving them both trembling.
They collapsed together, breathless and slick with sweat, Kassandra nestled against his chest, her small bump a quiet reminder of their shared future. "You're… too much," she panted, a tired smile on her lips.
"Heh, sorry..." Alaric grinned.
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